UEFA await ref report over chants

UEFA will wait on the reports from their match delegate and referee before deciding whether to take any action over Chelsea fans' taunting of Anton Ferdinand during Tuesday night's Champions League match at Genk.

PUBLISHED: 10:12, Wed, Nov 2, 2011

Champions League logo [PA]

UEFA will wait on the reports from their match delegate and referee before deciding whether to take any action over Chelsea fans' taunting of Anton Ferdinand during Tuesday night's Champions League match at Genk.

Some of the Blues' travelling contingent were clearly heard singing, "Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are", during the 1-1 draw at the Cristal Arena. It appeared to be an attempted show of support for captain John Terry, who is now under police investigation over allegations he racially abused QPR defender Ferdinand during last month's west London derby, something he denies.

Chelsea were forced to condemn the chanting, saying: "It was wholly inappropriate and we don't condone it."

UEFA are likely to receive their delegate's and referee's reports on Thursday and they confirmed that their disciplinary unit "would look into" any allegations of racist chanting in those reports.

They would also do the same were "any other piece of evidence of such chanting be made available" before deciding "whether to open disciplinary proceedings against the relevant club".

Possible sanctions for racist chanting include fines and forcing clubs to play matches behind closed doors.

However, even if UEFA are made aware of Tuesday night's chants, it remains to be seen whether they can be deemed to be racist in a disciplinary sense.